Out in the Cold
We All Scream
The Cone, 6855 Tylersville Rd., West Chester
thecone.com
Golden Gelato, 130 W. Pike St., Covington
www.goldengelatocov.com
Piper’s Cafe, 520 W. Sixth St., Covington
www.piperscafe.biz
Hello Honey, 1530 Madison Rd., Walnut Hills
118 N. Ft. Thomas, Ft. Thomas
www.hellohoneyicecream.com
Bold Face Dairy Bar, 801 Mt. Hope Ave., www.boldfacedairybar.com
Honey Child Artisan Pops, various locations
www.honeychildpops.com
Traveling the Tristate, sampling ice cream – Someone’s got to do it, right?
For three years, my daughters and I have been on the hunt for the coolest creamy whips, the sweetest scoop shops, and the most iconic ice cream establishments you may or may not have heard of.
And as National Ice Cream Month draws to a close, it’s only fair we share a few of our under-the-radar favorites. After all, there are four more weeks left in summer. That’s a lot of treats to be had.
The Cone
The bright orange and vanilla swirl cone in West Chester isn’t just a ploy for more Instagram pics. It’s also a reference to “The Cone’s Famous Orange Sherbet,” which is, as they point out, “conemade” daily from a secret recipe.
You can eat your ice cream inside or out, and there are even small rides for the little ones. Plus, if your family is peanut-, dairy- or sugar-free, you can make everyone happy here.
Our pick: the blueberry swirl. Perfect for fans of a certain theme park’s blue ice cream, mixed with vanilla soft serve for the perfect summer treat.
The Covington Trifecta: Piper’s, Golden Gelato and eishaus
The thing that makes these three spots special is that they are completely different, and yet all within walking distance. From soft serve in every flavor imaginable to authentic Italian gelato to German-style spaghetti eis, you’ll find out one of the many reasons why people love the Cov.
Piper’s Cafe
Piper’s specializes in soft serve flavor combinations - they’re up to about 45,000 these days. The menu can be overwhelming, but where else can you get a key lime pie and cheesecake - or cantaloupe and pomegranate swirl?
Piper’s offerings are lactose free and vegan, and they even hand make their craft sodas.
Our pick: the swirl of your choice in the house made waffle cone. You can’t miss.
Golden Gelato
Golden Gelato serves authentic gelato and sorbetto, in keeping with the Italian tradition, but not forgetting the owners’ Kentucky roots. Everything is scratch-made and the flavors change frequently, which means there’s always something new to try. You’ll find flavors running the gamut from bourbon old fashion to blueberry mascarpone, strawberry balsamic to stracciatella.
Our pick: go with the regular cup, where you can add up to three flavors. Choose a traditional flavor, a personal favorite and one that’s off the wall. Or better yet: Ask your server for their favorite.
eishaus
eishaus and its companion restaurant, frosthaus, are neighborhood favorites in downtown Covington. eishaus is famous for its spaghetti eis, which looks exactly like a spaghetti noodles and sauce, but tastes like heaven.
While the kids are enjoying their spaghetti eis or one of the decadent specialty milkshakes, the adults can pop into frosthaus next door and go for a boozy slush or milkshake. It’s a win-win.
Our pick: The spaghetti eis 3-way, which at first glance you’ll mistake for a Cincinnati chili 3-way, with chocolate sauce, shaved yellow chocolate and mini vanilla wafers.
Hello Honey
If you want to go a little fancier, Hello Honey has the ice cream of your foodie dreams. With a shop in Walnut Hills, a new location in Ft. Thomas and one about to open on Race Street, Hello Honey appeals to the adventurous ice cream eater.
Flavors like charcoal black sesame, lemon poppyseed cardamom and berry earl gray sit right beside old favorites like cookies and cream and brownie fudge.
Our pick: flavors rotate frequently, but anything with “honey” in the name is a winner: honey lavender is a family favorite.
Bold Face Dairy Bar
If you love a creamy whip walk-up window, this one’s for you. Bold Face Dairy Bar in Price Hill’s Incline District offers an eclectic mix of flavors from unusual (chai tea, cardamom, bourbon barrel stout) to familiar (pistachio, strawberry, malt).
Its claim to fame is the Bold Face Cone, which is loaded with toppings and covered in 23 karat gold leaf.
Our pick: Anything with conglomeration crunch, the Bold Face topping that’s a combination of all your favorite candies. It’s perfect on coffee or caramel ice cream.
Honey Child Artisan Pops
Ok, so it’s not ice cream exactly. It’s a frozen treat, and we’ll allow it.
You’ll see Honey Child’s colorful cart and umbrella all over town, from festivals to Findlay Market, and now in stores like Whole Foods and Clifton Market. All Honey Child Pops are made without cane sugar, and its Power Pop line offers superfoods blended right in – and you won’t even notice.
Our pick: The strawberry basil play pop. Refreshing and delicious.
Putz’s Creamy Whip
Sometimes you just gotta get back to basics. And that’s where Putz’s comes in. It’s an old-school creamy whip with a full menu of hot dogs and walking tacos and a list of sweet treats a mile long.
Remember it’s cash only, but you won’t need a ton. This has been an affordable West Side treat since 1936.
Our pick: The kids will like the ice man or ice lady, a slushy with ice cream - and a candy face. Plus, the super thick cyclone can’t be missed.
Our years of field research have led me to this not-so-scientific conclusion: in truth, there’s no such thing as bad ice cream. So go forth, research – and enjoy.
– Kathrine Nero